1 Oct 2014

With three defeats in the first six games, Liverpool's Premier League form is poor at the moment, but on the plus side, the Reds have a 100% record in Champions League, so it's not all doom and gloom ;-) Okay, it's only one game, but it's a positive, so I'll take it. The first team remains weakened by injury for tonight's game with Basel, but the Reds should have enough quality in the squad to get a positive result, and a good win will be a massive boost ahead of this weekend's league game against West Brom.

Sturridge, Allen, Flanagan, Sakho, and Johnson are all set to miss the game through injury, but after recent injury scares, Hendo and Coutinho should be fit to feature.

As such, the team basically picks itself, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Brendan Rodgers go with the same team that beat Ludogorets, bar Sakho, who is injured.

That said, given the fact it's an away game, it's possible Rodgers may go slightly more cautious and start with Lucas ahead of Coutinho. Against Ludogorets, Lucas replaced his compatriot in the second half, so it's a definitely possibility.

I'd prefer to see a more progressive approach, but given the club's ongoing defensive issues, it won't come as a surprise to see craft sacrificed for steel. As such, the following line-up is a possibility:

---------------- Mignolet

Manquillo --- Skrtel -- Lovren ---- Moreno

----------------- Lucas

------------ Hendo -- Gerrard

------ Sterling ------ Lallana

--------------- Balotelli

If Lucas plays, then he should (IMO) be the deepest-lying midfielder. Lucas should never play ahead of Gerrard as he doesn't have the attacking threat required, but that doesn't seem to make any difference to the manager. Rodgers has also employed 4231 recently, so there's a possibility that he may try that formation in Europe:

---------------- Mignolet

Manquillo --- Skrtel -- Lovren ---- Moreno

-------------- Lucas -- Gerrard

----- Hendo ----- Sterling ------ Lallana

--------------- Balotelli

On paper, it looks tasty (bar the Lucas/Gerrard partnership), but in practice, it isn't really working. I'd like to see either Coutinho or Markovic start the game, but I have a feeling that one or both may end up on the bench.

With seven wins in their first ten league games, Basel are on a roll at the moment, and manager Paulo Sousa is determined to make it a night to remember for the Swiss club. He told reporters this week:

"We could create a story tomorrow which will be remembered in the future. As a coach all the games are a real test. It is a fantastic moment for us, myself and the players and our club to enjoy but also to compete as we are looking to get results."

This is going to be a tough game, but being away from home could suit Liverpool as there be more space to exploit during the game.

49 comments:

Completely agree about Lucas only being able to play as the midfield anchor. This should be the best option to stop Stevie getting shackled by being man- marked and give him free reign to do what he does best- pick out incisive passes. I still think he can do a job behind the strikers where he will get the ball higher up the pitch. With sterling and Lallana flanking him, I think this could be an option

Gerrard will not play further up he pitch let alone with Lucas as the deepest midfielder. Just like Lucas he does not have the legs to track back so our midfield will crumble. I am quite confident that Rodgers will not start with Gerrard and Lucas. He surely has learnt his lesson. It has to be one or the other.

Rodgers will most likely start with the same team vs Everton and with 4-2-3-1. We ain't going to score many goals with this formation. Balotelli is also struggling upfront on his own. If Basel take the game to us from the start like most teams have done this season and we sit back and try soak up the pressure then we are in for a hiding.

Defence is most probably right one, and it is the best one. As Brendan will not push Steven up the pitch we should line up him in that anchore rolewith Hendo and Lallana, plus Sterling, Balotelli and one half time for each Suso and Markovic, Though maybe it is time to start Lambert and get Suso or Markovic from the bench.

I saw the match, and I thought that he looked himself again, do not know how I thought he was out.. That jagilka strike really hit me hard...They play 352, with one of the two strikers actually being a bit behind so I think we could hurt them on the flanks and Sterling Moreno looks lethal

I will be very surprised if we go with this formation. We are most likely to go 4-2-3-1 and defend a one goal lead if we do score.

I just want a performance like that of Spurs where we were just relentless when we broke forward. We unfortunately are not great at defending so the only way we will win games right now is by scoring goals.

i know i picked on him a lot against middlesbrough i cant stand him worst footballers

but alot of us picked on sterling after he played so poorly vs hull the performance was so bad some were calling for his career rodgesr never lsitened at the kc then put in another bad performance vs nowrich then an average performance vs west ham sterling not looked back since

like i said i think he is horrible has aspas mark two all over him but he could prove me wrong i remember i was crying one day when daglish played henderson vs wigan at anfield i think sterlings debutnow hes my favorite player

Ludogorets were robbed against us, we were not good enough to win that game, but for their mad goalie, this team are better than Ludogorets I expect, they beat Chelsea Home and Away in this competition last season, how many teams have achieved that.A draw would be a great result for us.